hameldon and goodshaw hills

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging; one of my favourite pastimes is walking and bagging trigs. With the covid-19 situation, I have re-discovered some of the amazing scenery in Accringtonia, my home for the last 15 years.

My route can be seen on the attached screenshot rather than talk all the way through it I will point out assailant observations, the walk starts on Pinewood drive, after a few hundred metres walking take the footpath which forks right over a small bridge crossing pleck brook, then take the immediate footpath to the left. Look out for a nice mini waterfall across the stream after a hundred metres or so. 

Follow my route upto a cross paths junction with a couple of farm buidings (Higher Riley), go straight across through the farm driveway path and continue ahead onto farm land. At the next farm building a few hundred metres beyond I hopped a gate and went straight ahead to cross the main dual carriageway (an alternative would be to not hop the gate but carry on another few hundred metres before using the subway to go under the dual carriageway.). Both paths require a steady climb up to join a more major track known as the kings highway. Turn right onto this main path (there are good views to your right of Accrington, hyndburn and rossendale).

After approx. a kilometre take the minor road/track to the left (look for rossendale round the hills marker). This path takes you to within 10 metres of top of goodshaw hill (if you can avoid the cows (cows seem to enjoy hill tops in the sun) climb on top of the hill to gain good views of rossendale, thiverley pike and crawshawbooth). Re-turn to the path following the rossendale around the hills markers for around 1 mile.

Look out for the track with stones going to left near 2 gates as you are approaching the hameldon hill weather station. Take this (great hamledon hill will be on your right). After walking approx. Half a kilometre look for the 1st proper path to the right up hamledon and go ahead to bag the trig. On a clear day as well views of pendle hill, Burnley and hyndburn. You can see Ingleborough over pendle's left shoulder and Blackpool tower beyond Blackburn.

Now take the path to a roughly 90 degree angle to the left of from where you came follow this down the slope (note to go left of the fenced off area.). Follow my path down Moleside coming out to the right hand side of the farm before following the road underneath the dual carriageway. 

From here I turned right and left just past a wall and meandered my way past reservoirs to the left and then through the trees of the coppice down.

Accounting for a steady pace but a good few of brew flask stops to admire the views. I would allow 3 hours starting a finishing top of avenue parade/pinewood drive. Distance travelled 12.5km, elevation gained 319 metres.

Hoped you can enjoy the walk like I did with good visibility.

Best wishes 

James